Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----but he would have been absolutely delighted that I am here in the Seanad. It is such a privilege for me.

Nearly 40 years ago, in 1982, Nan Joyce set out on a journey. She was the first member of the Traveller community to run for office. She got more than 500 votes. Back then, there was only Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael but she managed to get votes from ordinary people in Tallaght, which was absolutely incredible. Today, that journey has been completed. It is not that we have equality - it is far from equality. I am still the only Member of both Houses from an ethnic minority group. We all know the process of getting to the Seanad is not easy. It is not what you know but who you know. It is through those relationships that are built over the years. It took me five years to get here. This time five years ago, my husband and one of our colleagues said to me, "Go for the Seanad, Eileen. There is a seat up for grabs, you can do it." I remember thinking, how stupid that was and that I would never get it. I got 76 first preference votes but it took me five years to get here.

It is difficult for women from all parts of society to be here but it is tougher again when one is a member of the Traveller community, a black woman or a woman from a working class area. This Seanad does not reflect the Ireland we all live in today. It absolutely does not.

I will be committed, going forward, to again work with those on the edges of society - those from marginalised communities. One of the emergency pieces of legislation we, in the Upper House, should pass is the occupied territories Bill. We should work on that Bill. It is absolutely vital we stand with the people of Palestine right now. The Civil Engagement Group will do everything in our power. That Bill does not need to be recreated. It is already there. The Government needs to implement it. I have so much to say. It is so surreal to stand up here and be an equal Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I thank every single outgoing Member of this House, TD and county councillor who put a number beside my name, because if you cannot see it, you cannot be it. I am not standing up saying "Look at me, I am a Senator and now you can go off and do it". That is not the case. When you are from the likes of Ballyfermot, Crumlin or Walkinstown, you can see it but that does not mean you can be it. You need the right supports and the right access to education and health services. I was speaking to the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Her questions, which I really admired, were how could we work together and what could she do for women's health within the Traveller community. Wow. That was mind-blowing for me because, again, I want to work with, not against, people in these Houses. I am absolutely privileged to be here and I hope to work closely with my CEG colleagues to create better opportunities not just for the few in the country, but for everybody. We are going to work as hard as we can, I hope along with the Senators opposite, to reform the Seanad. Everybody here is a white, settled person. The majority are. I am the only member of the Traveller community here. It still does not reflect diversity and that needs to change.